Disability Coordination Office ACT - Negotiating the Maze

Developing the Poster 

When this resource was in the early planning stages, one of the first "must haves" was a visual representation of transition as a multi-year process. We felt that it was important to develop such a visual cue as it:

• provided a format that did not rely too heavily on text that could be used by the students independently
• could be used as a learning tool by families, schools and support agencies to promote discussion of key transition concepts with students
• had the capacity to be developed into a visual navigation map for the web-based version of the resource so that it might assist users to make their way in and out of different content sections.
• offered a means to remind us refocus / not to lose sight of the bigger picture (especially once written support documentation is inevitably stowed away out of sight).

We were aware that creating such a complex visual cue would be a challenge. What a gross understatement that turned out to be! Through all its various mutations, we eventually came to the realisation that the poster would not conform to any simplified linear design, especially when we wanted use images rather than text to convey many of the concepts.

The final poster (49.5cm x 70cm) may not be the prettiest design, but we hope it will grow on you with time. It utilises a somewhat non-linear design and contains a montage of over 150 images. These images represent roles, rights, responsibilities and activities commonly associated with adult life to encourage teenagers to explore what life as an adult means to them. The areas identified may not be relevant to all teenagers but are intended to promote discussion and provide opportunities for teenagers to identify their goals and the possible skill sets required to attain them. It also includes key age-related milestones that are important to be aware about.

The poster is designed for reflection and review - something to be explored over time rather than in one sitting. We encourage you to place it somewhere that can tap into those spare moments of reflection we encounter, such as a bedroom wall or the toilet door.

Evolution of the poster

The idea for the final poster came from the old Electric Shadows Cinema posters that many Canberrans used to have attached to a kitchen wall, over the office photocopier or on the back of a toilet door. The posters would cover approximately a 3-month period and contained information about the art-house films that were scheduled for the season. The posters were a collage of images that you would explore over time as the traditional placement of the posters tapped into those moments of reflection we experience, like when we might be waiting for the kettle to boil. In those little snippets of time the poster would grab our attention and encourage us to think a little harder about possibly planning a trip to the movies.